Catholic blasts Mutharika is Malawi’s ‘President for Life’ remarks by Minister Chiumia: Dictatorship in the making

President Peter Mutharika has been declared to be Malawi’s life president by Culture and Sports Minister Grace Chiumia, remarks which have been condemned by influential Catholic Church through its governance arm, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace (CCJP).

‘Life President’ Mutharika confers with the First Lady during the Mulhako wa Alhomwe fundraising dinner at BICC in Lilongwe (C)Stanley Makuti

Chiumia made the remarks at the fundraising dinner of the Mulhako wa Alhomwe in Lilongwe on Friday where Mutharika was guest of honour.

She referred to Mutharika, 76 as the “Life President”, remarks which were not disputed by Mutharika.

Discussions over succession plans have intensfifies recently in Mutharika’s Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) with Minister of Agrcutlure and Irrigation, George Chaponda seen as repositioning himself to tae over.

As confusion reigns in the DPP and rumours begin to fly that President Mutharika is not interested in a second term, factions are forming.

One is led by the First Lady, Gertrude Mutharika, pushing for the Head of State to go for another term and others are grouped around each of the following: Chaponda, Labour Minister Henry Mussa and Ben Phiri, the party strongman and Mutharika’s confidant – all seeking to be successors.

Chiumia realigned herself to First Lady faction, by calling Mutharika as Life President, a statement viewed as whipping the Malawi leader’s interest to hold on to power.

But Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace says remarks by Minister Chiumia that Mutharika should be Malawi leader-for-life are retrogressive and creating dictatorship.

The life-presidency remarks comes after another DPP senior politicians, regional governor for the north Kenneth Sanga told a rally that Mutharika’s party will be in power until 2099.

And secretary general Ecklem Kudontoni said DPP will until keep on winning the elections for the next 50 years.

Also commenting recently in Presidential Advisor on National Unity, Symon Vuwa Kaunda who said Mutharika will remain President of Malawi even if elections were held today, saying ” there is no one else.”

Malawi will hold next elections in May, 2019.

Mutharika is eligible to contest for the second and final five –year term.

To Chiumia, Sanga, Kaunda, Kudontonie and all DPP top brass, term limits whatsoever do not mean anything to them, all the propagate is Mutharika being in power “till death do us part.”

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Some of these northerners are very embarrassing, most of them not properly educated. Scums. Always stupid things like these are deliberately pushed to these ignorant boot licking northerners to start life presidency or titles giving nonsense talks. Is it because the incumbent presidents and their southern cohorts people know that the greatest opposition to this will come from the north? Hence using some stupid northerners to talk bullshit.

CCJP and media guys, if you have nothing to inform, educate and entertain us, staying quiet could be very important. If you were there at the fundraising dinner, I wonder if you are the slip of the tongue can institute CCJP to waste their moment on. The President has already made his side clear that he is standing for second and final term for him. You are the very people speculating that Hon Chaponda is preparing himself for a takeover. Then where does Life Presidency becomes an issue? Fellow Malawians learn to be serious in our undertakings.

You should be naive to believe Hon Chiumia’s remarks were a slip of a tongue. We did away with the life presidency almost twenty years ago. It therefore puzzles me that thoughts of life presidency still lingers in some peoples minds. If it was indeed a slip of the tongue, APM should have corrected her, but he chose to be silent on such a sensitive issue. For me, these wolves are testing the waters just the same way the limitless and third terms bids were brought to the attention of Malawians.

If you that think tumbukas are pathetic the you are very shallow upstairs. The pathetic lot are those who voted DPP back into government after it messed up the economy. Grace will not be MP after 2019. Mark my words.

Tumbukas are a pathetic lot through and through. When are these people going to come to their senses and reason like people with some back bone. I pity these Northerners. Can someone help these people wake up and see the world the right way. Teach the pathetic Tumbukas to be realistic for goodness sake I am happy I was not born a Northerner.

O…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….O Grace Chiumia is many things – a woman, a christian, a nurse by prof, mostly a Malawian e.t.c. Now . . . . . . Now, does it make any quantum of sense to insult all women for what Chiumia said? . . . Is it fair to curse all Christians for the sins of Chiumia coz she is also Christian? . . . et cetera . . . . . . Then why bundle and beat up, all Northerners and Tumbukas for Grace’s remarks; for being such? Whatever Grace said has nothin to do with Tumbuka’s; rather her… Read more »

O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….O If these rumours are true, its understandable. There is no peace in criticisms; and APM has had his share of criticisms, for his am-not-aware; I-dont-take-deadlines, we-have-defeated-them; I-dont-care-I-have no-problem attitude etc. And the best thing any one can do when the kitchen gets hot, is to get out. . . . but if the rumours are not true, APM should be worried; coz it shows that his own kinsmen doubt him now and are indirectly suggesting otherwise to him. But one doubts the rumours’ veracity when they listen to Chiumia. ………………………………………………………………………………… Its quite a wonder! What comfort does Chiumia find… Read more »

IF TRUTH BE TOLD, MUTHALIKA HAS PROVED TO BE A VERY SLEEPY AND TIRED OLD PROFESSOR WHO NEEDS TO REST IN 2019.AT 77 LATE DR KAMUZU BANDA WAS STILL VERY SHARP, ALERT AND DESERVED THE LIFE PRESIDENCY UNLIKE PETER .GRACE CHIUMIA IS A MERE QUALIFIED MID WIFE NOT EVEN A QUALIFIED NURSE SO IF SHE HAS BEEN SPOILED OR OVERLOADED WITH MINISTERIAL EMOTIONS, SHE SHOULD NEVER EVER FORGET THAT THERE ARE MORE THAN 14 MILLION OF US MALAWIANS WHO DESERVE BETTER LEADERS TO MANAGE OUR GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS, OUR TAX MONEY AND MANY MORE.DPP AND PETER ADMINISTRATION ARE SLEEPING OVER CASH… Read more »

I think Catholics you are not serious. You already know that there is a constitution why are you bothering your self as if you don’t have other things to do Shame for you that you commenting any thing while do you target negative only ,there so may things as people of God you can do please concentrate in Spiritual